Tag Archives: Peter Swales

The 1970s: Hijacking a Successful City!

The series of features/articles covering Manchester City in the 1970s continues with this newspaper reminder (published on this day – 15 January – in 1971) of the bitter takeover that killed off Manchester City’s period of trophy-winning dominance and ultimately led to Peter Swales becoming chairman. It’s something that dragged the first team into the takeover battle and pitted manager Joe Mercer and assistant Malcolm Allison on opposite sides. Those seeking to takeover the club, including future director Ian Niven, believed Joe Mercer contributed nothing to MCFC (he told me this himself in April 1989 – at that time Mercer remained the most successful City manager ever) and they split up the partnership. Not only that but they started the process which led to City being downgraded and becoming a fallen giant. Here’s another cutting from January 1971 which fits with the comments I’ve just made (that end line seems to be referring to Niven & others involved with the takeover):

Some of those involved with the takeover managed to create positions for themselves which gave them status for decades at the club, while men like Mercer were cast aside. Oh, I could go on for hours about this period! If you would like to know more then this 5,200 word article on the entire 1970-71 season may help explain some of these points. 

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The 1970s: 1971-72 Mistreating Mercer

The series of features/articles covering Manchester City in the 1970s continues with a 4,700 word article on the entire 1971-72 season – a hugely significant season though one that’s often neglected. You can read this below. This series of articles and features on Manchester City in the 1970s will run throughout January with indepth articles some days and smaller ‘on this day’ style posts on others. There will be flashbacks to great games, players and more. Every day in January will offer something to enjoy.

Subscribers will get access to everything. If you want to know more on this incredible decade for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read it all? You could even subscribe for a month and see what you think. The following 4,700 word article is on the 1971-72 season and is available to subscribers below. Enjoy!

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The 1970s: 1970-71 Takeover Madness

The series of features/articles covering Manchester City in the 1970s continues with a 5,200 word article on the entire 1970-71 season. You can read this below. This series of articles and features on Manchester City in the 1970s will run throughout January with indepth articles some days and smaller ‘on this day’ style posts on others. There will be flashbacks to great games, players and more. Every day in January will offer something to enjoy.

Subscribers will get access to everything. If you want to know more on this incredible decade for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read it all? You could even subscribe for a month and see what you think. The following 5,200 word article is on the 1970-71 season and is available to subscribers below. Enjoy!

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Manchester City V Real Madrid, 19 December 1979

On this day (19 December) in 1979 Manchester City’s first meeting with Real Madrid occurred. Back then it was viewed as a prestigious friendly, or at least that’s what it was supposed to be, but it turned out to be a controversial game with implications for the Blues for some time. Here’s an 1800 word article with images of that game and the controversy surrounding it.

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The 1980s: Swales Profile From 1989

The series of features covering the 1980s for Manchester City continues with an article from this day (11 December) in 1989 when City chairman Peter Swales was profiled. Back then profiles like this on the chairman appeared fairly regularly, usually after he’d just sacked a manager. It all makes interesting reading today.

If you want to know more about this period and the entire 1989-90 season then become a subscriber and read the following 8,000 word article on that season. Enjoy!

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Today’s feature was the last on the 1980s. I hope you’ve enjoyed them. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

The 1980s: The Horton Door Incident!

The series of articles covering Manchester City in the 1980s continues today with a reminder of the day Brian Horton damaged the Maine Road away team dressing room door. Future City boss Horton was then the manager of Oxford United. This article from this day (3 December) in 1988 explains how he was unhappy following his team’s dramatic 2-1 defeat the previous Saturday. City had been losing 1-0 with only a few minutes to go and then two dramatic late goals gave the Blues the victory. You can watch highlights here:

I think we can all understand Horton’s frustration. As part of his anger Horton left the door hanging on just one hinge! Rumours had suggested the Blues would make him pay for the damage but Peter Swales, the City chairman, said that there’d be no charge afterall.

It’s all a story about nothing really but is a nice reminder that in the days before social media these things still happened, they were just reported differently. Now this would be a major incident with apologies demanded and who knows what but back then it’s simply filling a space in the Manchester Evening News.

If you want to know more of the 1988-89 season for Manchester City Football Club then why not subscribe and read the following 4,100 word feature on the 1988-89 season. Enjoy!

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Tomorrow’s feature is the last on the 1980s as we tell the story of the 1989-90 season. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

The 1980s: City Want Oldham’s Royle

The series of features covering the 1980s for Manchester City continues with a reminder of a day when City chairman Peter Swales made a huge mistake. This cutting is from this day (2 December) in 1989 and refers to the Blues’ attempts to appoint Joe Royle as manager. However, by the time this article was published Swales had already messed things up.

He’d appeared on Granada TV’s Kick Off programme on the Friday night saying how he wanted Oldham boss Royle to replace Mel Machin. Unfortunately, Oldham had a game that night and Swales’ comments on TV helped inspire a series of emotional pleas and chants for Joe Royle not to leave Boundary Park. Their game basically became a Joe Royle tribute night and the emption of that night meant City did not get their man. At the time City fans would call days like this ‘Typical City!’ as cock-ups by the chairman and his supporting directors dogged the club’s development.

Note the comment about Tony Book in the image. These were the days when he often was dragged into managing the team on a temporary basis.

If you want to know more about that weekend and the entire 1989-90 season then become a subscriber and read the following 8,000 word article on that season. Enjoy!

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Today’s feature was the last on the 1980s. I hope you’ve enjoyed them. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

The 1980s: 1989-1990 Blue Moon Is Born

A new daily series of articles for subscribers started earlier this month covering the 1980s. This is a seasonal journey through a truly important decade in the history of Manchester City Football Club. Today’s article is a 8,000 word long read on the 1989-90 season. Enjoy!

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Today’s feature was the last on the 1980s. I hope you’ve enjoyed them. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

The 1980s: 1988-1989 Bananarama

A new daily series of articles for subscribers started earlier this month covering the 1980s. This is a seasonal journey through a truly important decade in the history of Manchester City Football Club. Today’s article is a 4,100 word feature on the 1988-89 season. Enjoy!

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Tomorrow’s feature is the last on the 1980s as we tell the story of the 1989-90 season. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald

The 1980s: 1987-1988 Remember When

A new daily series of articles for subscribers started last week covering the 1980s. This is a seasonal journey through a truly important decade in the history of Manchester City Football Club. Today’s article is a 4,000 word feature on the 1987-88 season. Enjoy!

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Tomorrow’s feature is on the 1988-89 season. If you missed the earlier features then start here:

The 1980s: 1980-1981 Gow, Hutchison & McDonald